National Drug Intelligence Center

Title:

Domestic Cannabis Cultivation Assessment
2007

Publication Date: February 26, 2007

Document ID: 2007-L0848-001

Archived on: July 1, 2009.
This document may contain
dated information. It remains available to provide
access to historical materials.

This assessment provides a strategic overview of cannabis cultivation
and marijuana production in the United States. It addresses major trends in domestic
cannabis cultivation, both indoor and outdoor, with a focus on cannabis cultivation
operations in primary areas of production at the state and county level.

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The Domestic Cannabis Cultivation Assessment 2007 is a national-level
strategic assessment of cannabis cultivation and marijuana production in the United
States. This assessment addresses major trends in domestic cannabis cultivation,
both indoor and outdoor, with a focus on cannabis cultivation operations in primary
areas of production at the state and county levels. This assessment addresses wide-ranging
issues regarding cultivation operations, including planting and harvesting seasons;
use or presence of weapons, booby traps, and counter-surveillance; resultant environmental
damage; and the operational trends of drug trafficking organizations and other criminal
groups. This assessment draws upon reporting and data provided by the Office of
National Drug Control Policy, the National Marijuana Initiative (see
text box), and numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement
agencies.

The National Marijuana Initiative
(NMI), funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), was
established in 2001 to coordinate federal, state, and local agencies in
areas that produce the largest amounts of marijuana in order to significantly
reduce cannabis cultivation. The Initiative is specifically intended to
foster partnerships among agencies in states where DTO operations impact
federal lands. The NMI is designed to assist in the investigations of DTOs
operating in the seven primary cannabis cultivation and marijuana production
states (often referred to as the M7 states): California, Hawaii, Kentucky,
Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia. The NMI supports law enforcement
efforts in identifying the infrastructure of marijuana DTOs through expanded
investigations and collection of intelligence in an attempt to disrupt and
eventually dismantle the organizations.

Domestic cannabis cultivation has increased sharply since 2000
as more drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) relocate cannabis cultivation
operations from Mexico and Canada to the United States. These DTOs are relocating
to reduce the risk of marijuana seizure or loss during cross-border transport,
gain direct access to local drug markets, and achieve higher profit margins
for domestically produced marijuana, particularly higher-grade marijuana.

Domestic outdoor cannabis cultivation by Mexican DTOs is most
prevalent in remote and isolated areas of U.S. public and private lands, primarily
in California, Oregon, and Washington.

Mexican DTOs are expanding cannabis cultivation operations eastward,
including into some areas east of the Mississippi River, such as North Carolina
and Tennessee, in order to increase their role in domestic marijuana distribution
and to be closer to eastern drug markets.

Many Mexican criminal groups that have established grow sites
in new areas of the country maintain direct contact and affiliation with larger
DTOs in California and Mexico and maintain a level of coordination among operating
areas, moving labor and materials to the various sites--even across the country--as
needed.

Caucasian criminal groups are the predominant indoor producers
of marijuana in the country; they are particularly active in the Appalachian
Region.

Domestic cannabis cultivation by Asian DTOs at indoor locations
is increasing, a particular concern because many are well-organized, Canada-based
groups that produce and distribute high potency marijuana.

Violent incidents by outdoor cannabis growers against law enforcement
and the presence of weapons at outdoor grow sites are increasing, most likely
because of increased law enforcement pressure and eradication.

Rising law enforcement pressure--although clearly a concern
to cultivators as evidenced by increasing violence and weapons--has not yet
stemmed the increase in domestic cannabis cultivation, either outdoors or indoors.
Rather, DTOs are simply adapting their methods (relocating to new areas, changing
their growing cycles, and growing higher potency plants both indoors and outdoors)
in order to continue operating in the United States while maintaining their
profits.